Democrat Rebecca Bennett Ousts New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Democrat Rebecca Bennett defeated two-term Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, according to projections by CBS News and NBC News, giving Democrats a key victory in their bid for control of the House.

Kean entered the election as one of the most vulnerable House Republicans. His campaign was shadowed by a monthslong absence from Congress that ended when he disclosed he had been hospitalized and diagnosed with depression.

Kean was away from Capitol Hill from March 5 until June 30 and missed 140 votes, NBC News reported. During his absence, his office said he was dealing with a “personal medical issue” but did not provide details. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders said they had spoken with Kean or his family but did not explain why he was out of public view, according to NBC News.

“When people hear the word ‘depression,’ many think it simply means feeling sad. But depression is so much more than that. It is physical. It is emotional,” Kean said in a House floor speech when he returned. “Until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.” He also said “there is no timeline for recovery” from depression.

The lack of information during his absence renewed debate about how much elected officials should disclose about their health. NBC News reported that Kean’s office continued posting on social media, authoring legislation and submitting remarks to the Congressional Record while he was away. One June 2 entry began, “I rise today to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of West Central New Jersey.”

Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, raised substantially more money than Kean late in the race. According to Federal Election Commission filings cited by CBS News, she raised about $3.9 million from July through September, compared with less than $1 million for Kean. Over the election season, Bennett raised nearly $8.2 million, while Kean raised nearly $5.9 million.

Bennett criticized Kean for voting for President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which she said cut Medicaid for thousands of people in the district. She also challenged his votes supporting Trump’s war with Iran, NBC News reported. Kean, a former state lawmaker, attacked Bennett over her ties to healthcare companies that his campaign ads said denied patients coverage and overbilled taxpayers, according to NBC News.

Both parties treated the district as an important contest. Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned with their respective candidates, while the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC allied with Johnson, shifted resources away from Kean’s race in the final weeks, CBS News reported. NBC News reported that top super PACs withdrew spending in support of Kean.

Kean first won the seat in 2022, defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski. Bennett’s victory ends his second term in Congress.